As the four girls ran into the trailer where their next class would be in. Just as they entered into the room, they could hear the bell ringing indicating that the next class period had officially begun. After finding their seats, they looked around to survey their surroundings.
"Where's the teacher?" Saori asked.
As if to answer her question they all heard footsteps coming in the direction of the room. Then a tall man with blonde hair cut straight military style cut and wearing black leather trench coat and similar colored jeans walked in. The man continued to walk, with his hands behind his back and a folder in their grasp. Coming to a stop in the center of the room, turning to face the students with the heels of his shoes clicking against each other as he did so.
"Greetings ladies," he spoke, with a calm elegant manner but also concealing a cold and callous nature. As he looked around the room to examine the students, "I see there are some veterans in this class, but I also see a lot of new faces," he observed. Then with a small smile forming in his face, "and that is what I like to see most of all." Turning again and walking straight over to a podium in the other side of the room, "for all of you who don't know me, I am Anton Slavik: former colonel of the Global Defense Military and now the commander of the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Armor division, also known as the armored corps." He introduced himself. Taking out the folder from behind his back and placing it on the podium before him he continued, "Now let's get started with roll call, if I call you name your name you will stand up and respond with 'here sir' and nothing else, after I have confirmed that you are here you may then sit back down, while I am doing roll call your mouths will not make a single sound unless it is for the reason I have already outlined, if you have a question then you must raise your hand and wait until I call upon you. If you understand what I have said then your response will be 'yes sir'," he explained. "Now, do you all understand?" he then asked.
"Yes sir," the class said in unison.
"Good," Commander Slavik said, "let's get started then."
As he began reading off names on the sheet, some of the names Miho recognized from her time at MLS or from earlier practice sessions, but most of them were entirely new to her. She hoped she could get along with everyone, not just as their commanding officer but hopefully as a friend.
"McNeil Nishizumi Miho," Commander Slavik called out.
Quickly getting to her feet and standing at attention Miho responded, "here sir."
"Good," Slavik commented making a mark on his sheet. Miho was just about to sit down when he spoke to her again, "just curious McNeil, you wouldn't happen to be the daughter of Michael McNeil, are you?"
Surprised and confused about Commander Slavik's interest in her dad, she answered truthfully, "yes sir, he is my adopted father."
"Interesting," was all Slavik said at first. "You know he and I served together in the military," he said to Miho's and everyone else's surprise. "He and I were almost like brothers and had a rivalry like brothers," he elaborated on. "I'm expecting a great deal from you, Commander McNeil," he said while looking at Miho with his usual serious expressionless face.
"Yes sir, I swear I'll give nothing but my all and nothing else," Miho declared before sitting down.
After finishing roll call, Commander Slavik explained what he expected from everyone in his class, including what activities they'd do on certain days and times, like how Friday is always PT day and before school every Wednesday would be "Commander's Call" and what happened there. The last bits he talked about included how each class and rows in every class would be classified as platoon and team perspectively; that the first four and the last four classes would be made a battalion each. "Now then," he said, "we are going to assign the commander and sergeant for this platoon. All MLS graduates, except for those already in a command position raise your hand and when I call on you declare your place within your graduating class."
Yukari and two other girls raised their hands. Slavik seeing Yukari's hand looked a bit surprised, "Miss Akiyama, you are aware that you are a first year in the corps so I doubt you attended MLS."
"Yes sir, I am aware but I did indeed attend MLS and graduated 10th in my and Commander McNeil's class," Yukari acknowledged.
Seeking to verify Yukari's claim, Commander Slavik left the classroom and into his office. After a short time, he came back, "well, Miss Akiyama," he started, "it seems your claim was correct," he admitted. The other two girls are another from Yukari and Miho's class, but only graduated 25th; the other girl, a third year named Bernice Graham, and she graduated 12th in her class before the other three girls.
"Well then," Slavik starts, but before he can continue, Bernice raises her hand.
"Commander Slavik, may I make a suggestion?" She asks.
"Very well, speak," he responds.
After nodding in acknowledgment, Bernice begins, "while I am aware that you would most likely name me as the platoon commander due to my experience in the corps compared to Miss Akiyama, I believe that despite her being a first year I believe she has potential, especially since she graduated MLS in a higher place than myself."
Commander Slavik seemed to contemplate the suggestion, before turning to Yukari and asking, "Well Miss Akiyama, do you think you are up to the task of platoon commander?"
Yukari seemed surprised, "I believe I can sir, I'd like to have Miss Graham as my platoon sergeant."
Bernice nodded in acceptance of Yukari's proposal.
"Very well," Commander Slavik declared, "your platoon commander will be Yukari Akiyama and your platoon sergeant will be Bernice Graham."
"Congratulations," Miho said while applauding, followed by everyone else in the room until class ended.